Toss game

ABSTRACT

A toss game has a pair of targets placed on a surface at a predetermined distance from one another and a plurality of game pieces that are tossed at the targets by a player. Each of the targets is in the form of a box with front and rear panels, an open top, an open bottom, and two open sides. The panels are connected by at least two rods. The panels are spaced from one another to define a target area between the panels and the rods. The plurality of game pieces are tossed at the targets by a player so the game pieces may land in one of the target area, against one of the rods, and outside the target area to indicate different points the player will receive during the toss of one of the game pieces. A target for a toss game has a front panel, a rear panel, and at least two rods extending between the front and rear panels so the panels are spaced to define an open top, an open bottom, and two open sides and to define a target area between the panels and rods for receiving at least one game piece.

BACKGROUND

Numerous tossing games have been provided in the prior art that use objects pitched at a target area so points are scored after the objects have landed. One popular toss game, known as cornhole or baggo, utilizes two angled platforms positioned a distance apart. Each platform has a hole through which a player attempts to toss a bag. While cornhole is popular, the game can be inconvenient to transport from place to place due to the size and weight of the platforms. The size also limits the places the game be played, which is typically outside.

To this end, a need exists for a toss game that overcomes the problems of the prior art. It is to such a toss game that the inventive concepts disclosed herein are directed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIVE CONCEPTS

In accordance with an aspect of the inventive concepts a toss game is disclosed. The toss game includes a pair of targets and a plurality of game pieces. The targets are placed on a panel a predetermined distanced from one another, such as six feet, six inches. Each of the targets are in the form of a box with a front panel and a rear panel, an open top, an open bottom, and two open sides. The front panel and the rear panel are connected to one another with at least two rods extending between the front panel and the rear panel so the front panel and the rear panel are spaced from one another to define a target area between the front panel and the rear panel and the rods. The game pieces are tossed at the targets by a player so the game pieces may land in one of the target areas against one of the rods, and outside the target area to indicate different points the player will receive during the toss of one of the game pieces.

In accordance with a further aspect of the inventive concepts a target for a toss game is disclosed. The target includes a front panel, a rear panel, and at least two rods extending between the front panel and the rear panel so the front panel and the rear panel are spaced from one another to define an open top, an open bottom, and two open sides and to define a target area between the front panel and the rear panel and the rods for receiving at least one game piece.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a toss game constructed in accordance with the inventive concepts disclosed herein.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a pair of targets of the toss game spaced a predetermined distance apart.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of one of the targets showing a game piece landed in a target area of the target and a game piece landed outside the target area.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the target of FIG. 3 showing a game piece landed against a support rod of the target.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Before explaining at least one embodiment of the inventive concepts disclosed, it is to be understood that the inventive concepts are not limited in their application to the details of construction and the arrangement of the components or steps or methodologies in this description or illustrated in the drawings. The inventive concepts disclosed are capable of other embodiments or of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed is for description only and should not be regarded as limiting the inventive concepts disclosed and claimed herein.

In this detailed description of embodiments of the inventive concepts, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a more thorough understanding of the inventive concepts. However, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that the inventive concepts within the disclosure may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known features may not be described to avoid unnecessarily complicating the disclosure.

Further, unless stated to the contrary, “or” refers to an inclusive “or” and not to an exclusive “or.” For example, a condition A or B is satisfied by anyone of: A is true (or present) and B is false (or not present), A is false (or not present) and B is true (or present), and both A and B are true (or present).

In addition, use of the “a” or “an” are employed to describe elements and components of the embodiments herein. This is done merely for convenience and to give a general sense of the inventive concepts disclosed. This description should be read to include one or at least one and the singular also includes the plural unless it is obvious that it is meant otherwise.

As used herein any reference to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular element, feature, structure, or characteristic described in the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG. 1, a toss game 10 constructed in accordance with the inventive concepts disclosed herein is shown. The toss game 10 is used for playing a toss game and includes a pair of targets 12 and a plurality of game pieces 14.

In one embodiment, the pair of targets 12 includes a front panel 16 and a rear panel 18. In the displayed embodiment, the front panel 16 and the rear panel 18 are square in shape. However, it is understood that the front panel 16 and the rear panel 18 may be made of a variety of other shapes or configurations including, but not limited to, rectangular, circular, and oval. In one embodiment, the front panel 16 and the rear panel 18 are made of wood. It is further understood that the front panel 16 and the rear panel 18 may be made from a variety of materials including, but not limited to, metal, plastic, or a combination thereof, so the front panel and the rear panel are rigid, impact resistant, light weight, and corrosive resistant.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, the front panel 16 and the rear panel 18 of the targets 12 are connected by at least two connecting rods 20. The connecting rods 20 extend between the front panel 16 and the rear panel 18. The connecting rods 20 each have a proximal end 20 a and a distal end 20 b. In the one embodiment, there are four connecting rods 20 wherein the proximal ends 20 a of the connecting rods 20 are removably attached to the front panel 16 and the distal ends 20 b of the connecting rods 20 are removably attached to the rear panel 18. However, the connecting rods 20 may be reversable wherein the proximal end 20 a of the connecting rod 20 may be removably attached to the rear panel 18 and the distal end 20 b of the connecting rod 20 may be removably attached to the front panel 16. The connecting rods 20 extending between the front panel 16 and the rear panel 18 configures the targets 12 into a box-like form. The space between the front panel 16 and the rear panel 18 and the connecting rods 20 defines a target area 22.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the respective removable attachments between each of the distal ends and the proximal ends of the connecting rods and the front panel 16 and the rear panel 18 may be by bolt and nut. However, it will be appreciated that many methods of attachment exist, such as various clamps and couplings, that might serve this function and the inventive concepts disclosed herein are not limited to the disclosed attachment method.

Also shown in FIG. 1 is the plurality of game pieces 14. In one embodiment, each of the game pieces 14 is a cube-shaped object. Similarly to the front panel 16 and the rear panel 18, it will appreciated that the plurality of game pieces 14 may be made from a variety of materials including, but not limited to, wood, metal, plastic, or a combination thereof, so the plurality of game pieces 14 are rigid, impact resistant, light weight, and corrosive resistant. It is also understood that the plurality of game pieces 14 may be made of a variety of other shapes or configurations such as rectangular and circular.

The plurality of game pieces 14 may have indicia 24 on at least one side. Uses for the indicia 24 include, but are not limited to, indicating which team is to toss one of the plurality of game pieces 14 and/or indicating that more or fewer points are to be afforded a team following a toss. For example, indicia may include logos or colored markings, so one team may toss the game piece(s) 14 with a red marking and second team may toss the game piece(s) 14 with a blue marking.

Generally, in the performance of the toss game, it can be played in any convenient location, whether inside or outside. There are two teams. One or two players make up each team. The targets 12 are spaced apart, as depicted in FIG. 2. By way of example, the targets 12 may be spaced so the centers of the targets 12 are six feet, six inches apart. Each team has at least one of the plurality of game pieces 14. For example, each team may have three game pieces 14. Each team will toss the game pieces 14 in an effort to land them within the target area 22. Tossing may occur sequentially. For example, a first team may toss all of its respective game pieces 14 followed by a second team tossing all of its respective game pieces 14. It will be understood that a variety of tossing sequences exist, such as a first toss by a first team followed by a first toss by a second team.

Referring now to FIG. 3, points may be awarded for game pieces 14 that land within the target area 22. Points may not be awarded when game pieces 14 do not land within the target area 22. Additionally, points may awarded or subtracted depending upon how the game piece 14 land regarding the target area 22. For example, additional points may be added (such as doubling the current earned points) if the game piece 14 lands with the indicia 24 facing upward. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, additional points may be added if the game piece lands against one of the plurality of connecting rods 20.

As an additional example of scoring, landing the game piece 14 within the target area 22 may be worth six points. Landing the game piece 14 resting or leaning against a connecting rod 20 may be worth three points. Landing the game piece 14 where the indicia 24 is facing upward may be worth doubling the current awarded points for that toss. The game may be played until a first team reaches sixty-six points, for example. If both teams reach sixty-six points on the same round, a tie-breaking round may be played wherein the winning team is determined by the higher score earned in the tie-breaking round.

From the above description, it is clear that the inventive concepts disclosed herein are well adapted to carry out the objects and to attain the advantages mentioned herein, as well as those inherent in the invention. While exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts have been described for purposes of this disclosure, it will be understood that numerous changes may be made which will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art and which are accomplished within the spirit of the inventive concepts disclosed. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A toss game, comprising: a pair of targets placed on a panel a predetermined distanced from one another, each of the targets being in the form of a box with a front panel and a rear panel, an open top, an open bottom, and two open sides, the front panel and the rear panel connected to one another with at least two rods extending between the front panel and the rear panel so the front panel and the rear panel are spaced from one another to define a target area between the front panel and the rear panel and the rods; and a plurality of game pieces that are tossed at the targets by a player so the game pieces may land in one of the target area, against one of the rods, and outside the target area to indicate different points the player will receive during the toss of one of the game pieces.
 2. The toss game of claim 1, wherein each of the game pieces is a cube.
 3. The toss game of claim 2, wherein the cube has an indicia on only one side thereof.
 4. The toss game of claim 1, wherein each of the targets include at least four rods extending between the front panel and the rear panel.
 5. The toss game of claim 4, wherein the front panel and the rear panel have four corners, and wherein each of the rods extends from near one of the corners.
 6. The toss game of claim 5, wherein the front panel and the rear panel are square shaped with four sides of equal length, and wherein the front panel and the rear panel are spaced a distance substantially equal to the length of one of the sides of the front panel and the rear panel.
 7. The toss game of claim 6, wherein the front panels of the targets face each other, and wherein the front panels are spaced six feet, six inches from one another.
 8. The toss game of claim 1, wherein the front panel and the rear panel are of equal dimensions.
 9. The toss game of claim 1, wherein the front panels of the targets face each other.
 10. A target for a toss game, comprising: a front panel; a rear panel; and at least two rods extending between the front panel and the rear panel so the front panel and the rear panel are spaced from one another to define an open top, an open bottom, and two open sides and to define a target area between the front panel and the rear panel and the rods for receiving at least one game piece.
 11. The target of claim 10, comprising at least four rods extending between the front panel and the rear panel.
 12. The target of claim 11, wherein the front panel and the rear panel have four corners, and wherein each of the rods extends from near one of the corners.
 13. The target of claim 12, wherein the front panel and the rear panel are square shaped with four sides of equal length, and wherein the front panel and the rear panel are spaced a distance substantially equal to the length of one of the sides of the front panel and the rear panel.
 14. The target of claim 10, wherein the front panel and the rear panel are of equal dimensions. 